30 bags in 30 days decluttering method

I’ve got a cupboard full of chalk paint that is no longer useable. I don’t think our local tip accepts it and you have to book a slot now.

How many bags equals one bin liner, please?
😂

I am going to get out all the tinned and packet instant soups that I bought for any contingency this winter. Destined for the foodbank.I am sure that will be at least a full bag. I may have to use my shopping trolley

I’d wait if I were you - there’s a fair bit of winter still to come! And they’ll have a long shelf life.

MayBee70

I’ve got a cupboard full of chalk paint that is no longer useable. I don’t think our local tip accepts it and you have to book a slot now.

I’m sure any recycling centre would take used paint cans of any kind Maybee70. We have to separate into empty cans (which go in with metal or plastic waste), and cans with paint still in (sorted into oil based and water based bins). I’ve found that actually there is very little they won’t take, but it’s an art sorting it all out for the right bins. I now keep boxes in the garage, and sort it before I go as it saves a lot of time, otherwise I’m going from one end to the other with bits and pieces.

Germanshepherdsmum

I’d wait if I were you - there’s a fair bit of winter still to come! And they’ll have a long shelf life.

yes. I should sit on my hands. Thanks for the wake up call

ixion

How many bags equals one bin liner, please?
😂

I’ve been deliberately vague about this, ixion . But if you’ve got a bin liner full, that’s pretty good going!

Day 9 - poor effort today as I haven’t been in much. I did manage to cobble together a small bag of dvd’s, though, to take to the charity shop.

Well done, those of you who are cracking on with this.

Not exactly getting rid of a bagful but I’ve found a home for an unopened bag of specialist dried food for cats. We lost our cat suddenly hence having the bag. A local pet store takes donations of food for Cats protection so it can go to them.

Aw, sorry to hear about your cat, SueDonim. I have a cat myself so I can empathise.

Thank you. It was in November Guesswhat but Dh hasn’t been ready to part with the cat food until now.

Nothing much to report.

I went out 😃

AreWeThereYet

Guesswhat I'm with you on the paperwork. We started during lockdown and shredded bag after bag of paperwork. We're very bad at doing it, so end up with piles of shredding. We use the recyclable charity bags that come through the door for the shreddings so they can go in the recycling bin.

No!

Shredded paper jams up the machines and must NOT be put in with recycled paper.

Has to go in general waste unfortunately, even though it’s paper.

We used to shred, but I got a gizmo like this for a lot of confidential waste so it can go straight into the bin. It’s a lot quicker and easier.

Calendargirl

AreWeThereYet

Guesswhat I'm with you on the paperwork. We started during lockdown and shredded bag after bag of paperwork. We're very bad at doing it, so end up with piles of shredding. We use the recyclable charity bags that come through the door for the shreddings so they can go in the recycling bin.

No!

Shredded paper jams up the machines and must NOT be put in with recycled paper.

Has to go in general waste unfortunately, even though it’s paper.

It is different in different areas, we are instructed to include
‘Shredded paper (in envelope or wrapped in paper)’ in our recycling.
It’s worth reading your local recycling policies, because there are some other things too that you can recycle in your normal collections that you wouldn’t think of.

I tried using shredded paper to start the fire but it just didn't work. I think it was shiny magazine paper which has high china clay content.
I had made a mass of it for a lucky dip.
I don't normally shred paper . It either isn't very secret (I tear off the address) or it goes on the compost heap.

My df is coming back later today to collect the contents of a filing cabinet to sort. Where did the week go?

DH and I started the new year by doing ONE pile/cupboard/drawer a day each so we’re not overwhelmed. It’s working really well.
Yesterday we went through drinks cupboard-I’m teetotal, DH barely drinks at all. We found FOUR unopened bottles of port! Am giving two away this week to thank ladies who are giving me lifts to choir. Emptied a few bottles with not much in-gin, pastis, ricard etc. Happy memories of our beloved France.
Then we had a walk at our nearby NT and took about half a dozen books and a jigsaw. . .then came away with one book and two jigsaws! 😂 we will redonate them soon-honest!

My foodbank is happy to accept started shampoo, make up , shower gel etc; - we put it out in a tub saying " help yourself" - items are snapped up .

Doodledog

We used to shred, but I got a gizmo like this for a lot of confidential waste so it can go straight into the bin. It’s a lot quicker and easier.

Thanks for that. I keep seeing those advertised and wondered how good they were. Personal recommendation, much better than stars on Amazon.

Mollygo

Doodledog

We used to shred, but I got a gizmo like this for a lot of confidential waste so it can go straight into the bin. It’s a lot quicker and easier.

Thanks for that. I keep seeing those advertised and wondered how good they were. Personal recommendation, much better than stars on Amazon.

I might investigate, thanks Doodledog

Our third (and more expensive) shredder lasted just four months so we've given up on them now.
Yes, we did get a refund on that one.

Casdon

Yes, I realise different areas have different attitudes to what can and cannot be recycled. Shredded paper is a definite no-no for us though, which seems a shame as it’s all paper, but I can understand how it messes up the machines at the recycling plant.

Mollygo

Doodledog

We used to shred, but I got a gizmo like this for a lot of confidential waste so it can go straight into the bin. It’s a lot quicker and easier.

Thanks for that. I keep seeing those advertised and wondered how good they were. Personal recommendation, much better than stars on Amazon.

They are great. The little refills last for ages, and the gizmos are very small, so mine lives in the fruit bowl, which is on the edge of the worktop near the bin. I just swipe it over the address or bits of a bill I don't want others to see, tear off the plastic window and bin the paper.

I read this thread a few days ago but didn't feel I could commit to a bag a day, so stayed quiet Yesterday I decided my clothes really needed sorting...........I've been ruthless and all the "I might lose enough weight to get back into it" ones that haven't seen daylight in years have gone, and some purchases that weren't really "me" (to my shame a couple still with tags). So a large black bin sack of good quality clothes to the local hospice shop along with a bag of clean stuff for ragging. I can now see what's in every drawer and cupboard, so thanks for the inspiration. I intend to keep plodding along, but not a bag every day.

Thanks for the tip about the privacy gizmo Doodledog I've seen them advertised but wondered how good they are. One ordered

I generally keep materials for shredding until the winter months. I have three small hotbins and many compost worms, the shreds help to make lovely compost. I shred catalogues, old books, personal paperwork.

Doodledog

We used to shred, but I got a gizmo like this for a lot of confidential waste so it can go straight into the bin. It’s a lot quicker and easier.

That my dh’s birthday present sorted! Thank you! He uses a black marker pen but that would be better, plus he’d be delighted to have a new gadget. 🤣

Day 10 - today’s haul could be classed as ‘miscellaneous’.

I’ve sorted a little cupboard and found more paperwork to recycle. Other bits and bobs like old key rings to chuck out.

I hadn’t realised I had so many little greetings cards from charities such as the Red Cross. Going to make up a pack and take them to the charity shop. Bookmarks, loads of them - I’ll slot into books around the house rather than throw them out.

Picked out a pair of shoes I’ve worn once that I’ll take to the charity shop. So, all in all, a good carrier bag’s full.

Am wishing now that I’d planned to carry out this de-cluttering lark just on weekdays. Then it would take me six weeks, giving me two days of freedom each weekend. As it is, I’m rushing to keep up.

Never mind. I’m making progress - as I see lots of you are too .